Exam prep

Question 1

Name the four philosophical groundings.

Answer 1

Metaphysical, naturalistic, sociological, rationalistic.

Question 2

Describe a metaphysical grounding.

Answer 2

Something outside of human control establishes right/wrong: could be God, or could be universal moral principles.

Question 3

Describe a naturalistic grounding.

Answer 3

Some ways of behaving have an evolutionary reasoning. If we sort our facts about the real world, we will be able to arrive at a reasonable explanation for morality.

Question 4

Describe a sociological grounding.

Answer 4

Idea: we can observe society to find a ground for ethics.

Question 5

Describe a rationalistic grounding.

Answer 5

Moves away from metaphysics, natural world, society. Uses rules of logic and reason.

Question 6

Describe the four types of ethics.

Answer 6

Metaethics: is god our source of moral guidance?
Normative ethics: how to assemble our moral principle
Applies ethics: specific cases of right/wrong. Societal
Descriptive ethics (comparative): study of people’s beliefs about morality

Question 7

Describe the principle of tolerance (ethics)

Answer 7

We, as outsiders to a culture, cannot say what is right or wrong to a certain person, as our beliefs are different.

Question 8

Name the four types of relativism

Answer 8

Cultural, ethical, social, metaethical.

Question 9

Describe Aristotle’s main three ideas about virtue ethics.

Answer 9

1. Morally is not individual action, but general disposition.
2. You can become a good person through practice.
3. A virtue is the golden mean between a vice of deficiency and a vice of excess.

Question 10

Describe Lawrence Kohlberg’s three levels of moral development

Answer 10

Preconvientional: what’s in it for me? Decrease pain, increase pleasure.
Conventional level: makes me look good. Those are the rules.
Post conventional level: for the greater good. Personal integrity, no matter the price.

Question 11

Give an overview of ultilitarianism in ONE sentence.

Answer 11

Greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Question 12

Describe the two points of Kant’s categorical imperative.

Answer 12

1. Act in ways which would, if they became universal law, change the world for the better.
2. Never use a person or people as a means to and end (respective individuality)

Question 13

Describe perfect vs imperfect duties

Answer 13

Perfect duties: promises to keep. (Exceptions)
Imperfect duties: goals to help others, when you’re able. (Some exceptions)

Question 14

Define act vs rule utilitarianism.

Answer 14

Act: making the best choice in one specific situation.
Rule: following a set of rules consistently to lead to good for the greatest number.

Question 15

What does Kant say about action vs intention.

Answer 15

As long as an action has a good INTENT, the outward consequences can be disregarded.

Question 16

Talk about Hume’s main three points regarding aesthetics and beauty.

Answer 16

1. Not everyone has good taste (taste can be refined, some are more practiced than others).
2. Beauty is subjective. (Pleasure = beauty)
3. Age affects out judgement of art.

Question 17

Describe Kant’s main three ideas of aesthetics.

Answer 17

1. Beauty is objective. (We are psychological inclined to view some things as beautiful)
2. The initial aesthetic response tells us how to view art.
3. Beauty creates pleasure.

Question 18

What does Nietzsche say about art?

Answer 18

Art enhances the human experience, suffering creates creativity.

Question 19

What does Dewey say about aer?

Answer 19

Appreciating beauty = to experience life. We should enrich our lives by viewing everything as art (the audience creates the piece!)

Question 20

Describe Hegel’s idea of aesthetics

Answer 20

There is an ideal sense of beauty, and the point of art is not to be realistic (nature isn’t art)

Question 21

Describe Heidegger’s ideas about aesthetics

Answer 21

All art has an inherent meaning. (Phenomenology)

Question 22

Describe Langer’s ideas of aesthetics

Answer 22

Art should create a cultural advanced. Significance of art is rooted in the human interpretation.

Question 23

Describe Confucius’ and Lao Tzu’s ideas about aesthetics

Answer 23

Confucius: aesthetic experiences are tools for moral and social development.
Lao Tzu: aesthetic fulfillment is founded in simplicity and harmony with nature/the natural order

Question 24

Describe Baumgarten’s ideas of aesthetics

Answer 24

There is a science of beauty: all five senses should be involved. People‘s senses can vary, however, meaning art is objective.

Question 25

Name five main fallacies and what they mean

Answer 25

Straw man: simplifying the argument to weaken it
Red herring: use of irrelevant information
Argument by ignorance: use of false inference
False dilemma: forcing a choice between two (third is available!)
Argument ad hominem: personal attack